Support for sheep while being sheared



(No Model.) TLA. REYNOLDS.

SUPPORT FOR sHEEP WHILE BEING SHEARED.

No. 594,428. Patented NovQ30, 1897.

UNIT D STAT S PATENT FFICEQ THOMAS A. REYNOLDS, OF BUNCH, IOlVA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,428, dated November 30, 1897.

Application filed July 24, 1897,

- sheep in holding the sheep in a position in which it may be most advantageously sheared without the necessity of tying the sheep or of having an assistant to hold the same.

A further object is to provide a device of this class that may be readily and quickly adjusted to fit sheep of any size and may also be adjusted as to the position in which the sheep are held by the device. I

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the'various parts of the device, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which the entire device is shown in perspective applied to a table or bench. 1

Referring to the accompanying drawing, the device is seen to be composed of a rigidly-fixed part that engages or supports the sheeps body and a hinged part to support the head. This rigid part comprises a straight flat port-ion (indicated by the reference-numeral designed to lay flat upon the top of the table, which is indicated by the referencenumeral 11. The end of the rigid portion is bent to overlap the side of the table and pass under'it, and this part is indicated by the reference-numeral 12. Ascrew-threaded rod 13, having a crank 14 thereon, is seated inthis part 12 to provide means wherebythe device may be securely clamped to the edge of a table. A thumb-screw (indicated by the reference-numeral 15) aids in holding the part 10 permanently in position on the table-top. This rigid portion of the frame extendsup- Serial No. 645,760. (No model.)-

wardly at 16, where an arch 17 is formed therein, and at the lower end of this arch 17 the body-rest 18 is fixed. The forward face of this body-rest is preferably curved to conform to a sheeps body.

The movable portion of the frame comprises a part 19, pivotally connected with the upright 16 by means of the bolt 20, andformed on its upper end is a head-rest 21, similar in outline to the body-rest 18 and provided with a metal book 22, fixed to its upper surface and projecting from one side of this upper surface upwardly and inwardly.

The reference numeral 23 indicates a curved fork pivotally connected with the part 19 and having its pointed ends 24: designed to engage the top of the table.

In practical use the sheep to be sheared is placed in a sitting position, with its feet extended away from the operator and its body resting against the body-support 18. The operator then inclines the sheeps head to one side, so that it rests upon the head-support 21. Then the movable part 19 is adjusted to the position in which it is desired to hold the sheeps head, and it is obvious that the frame 23 will support this part 19 in any position in which it is placed. The operator then passes his left arm over the sheeps neck, thus holding the sheep firmly in position so that its head cannot move, The hook 22 will as sist in preventing the sheeps head from moving toward the operator, while his arm readily prevents the sheep from moving in the opposite direction. By this means the sheep may be securely held and the operator use only one hand in so doing. With his other hand he may then shear the sheep in an easy and convenient manner. When one side of the sheep is sheared, it is obvious that it may be easily turned around on the table and the same operation of securing the sheep in position carried on.

Having thus described the device, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States therefor, 1s-- A sheep-holder, comprisingin combination, a fixed part, means for detachably connecting the same with the table, a body-rest 18 therethe manner set forth and for the purposes on, a hinged part 19 pivotally connected with stated. the said fixed part, a head-rest 21 thereon, a hook 22 fixed t0 the head-rest, and a fork piv- THOMAE REYNOLDS 5 otally connected with the hinged part and de- \Vitnesses:

signed to engage the top surface of the table, H. C. TRAVERSE, all arranged and combined substantially in JOHN F. SCARBOROUGH. 

